When I was getting ready to be a dad, I was stressed out, and the by-moms-for-moms baby books piling up in our house weren't helping. Nothing really did, until, in the end and just in time, I invited a group of fathers to our house. I fed them chili and, over a case of Harpoon IPA’s, they fed me their stories – stories that began, “My wife’s water broke, and then…,” or “I knew the game had changed in our marriage when…”
As I listened to them, my anxieties gave way. I realized what I had been missing was not tips, tactics, or expert advice. It was just stories from other dads, who, as it turns out, all started about as clueless and overwhelmed as I was.
As I listened to them, my anxieties gave way. I realized what I had been missing was not tips, tactics, or expert advice. It was just stories from other dads, who, as it turns out, all started about as clueless and overwhelmed as I was.
A year after our oldest was born, when we were all sleeping again,when life regained some semblance of balance, I decided to try paying forward the gift of those stories with my own on this blog (and then this book).
Not tips. Not tactics. Not expert advice. Just stories of the small moments of fatherhood. Because that's where I keep finding the big mysteries revealed.
Thanks for reading.
Not tips. Not tactics. Not expert advice. Just stories of the small moments of fatherhood. Because that's where I keep finding the big mysteries revealed.
Thanks for reading.
Stumbled across your blog while researching advice on fatherhood--my wife and I are expecting twins in March, so I've been trying to glean whatever I can from wise and experienced Dads out there. I really love the idea of a father's assembly and will plan on doing this in the near future. Thanks for the idea, the honest transparency of your writing in this blog, and for seeking to be a true dad to your kids. Keep on carrying the torch!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steven. Congrats on the twins! That Fathers Assembly far and away best thing I did in getting ready. In the years that followed I was part of a few others for dads to be as well. Really rich time on either side of the table. Best, Stefan
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